Non-parole period for rapist criticised

United Future MP Marc Alexander has criticised the "short" sentence and non-parole period of a man who brutally raped and sodomised a 61-year-old woman.

Nathan John Moetara, 30, was yesterday sentenced in New Plymouth District Court to 10 years' prison for the March 2 attack on the woman.

However, the New Plymouth scaffolder was only given a five-year minimum non-parole period after his victim, a devout Christian, pleaded for Judge Louis Bidois to exercise leniency.

Mr Alexander said today that while Moetara's victim had the power to forgive, the justice system had a responsibility to protect other future potential victims.

"The law must be applied not only in response to a punishment proportionate to the crime, but also to prevent future potential victims from this thug.

"To give this vicious sexual attacker an inch of mercy may well condemn another victim to the same fate. We simply cannot take the risk."

Judge Bidois said yesterday the attack was disgusting and degrading and one that would have broken most women.

However, the victim was a courageous Christian who had shown compassion, he said.

Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke said she believed Judge Bidois could consider the victim's plea for leniency in setting the minimum non-parole period, but said the Crown sought a sentence of between 10 and 12 years.

She said it was a premeditated sex attack on a vulnerable victim.

Defence counsel Andrew Laurenson said Moetara had come from a difficult background and was himself the victim of sexual offending.

- NZPA